TracQ™ Basic DataAcquisition and

Spectroscopy SoftwareTracQ Basic main application window.

• Controls Oriel™ Monochromators, spectrographs and variousdetection systems

• Performs radiometric measurements

• Acquires, processes and displays data in real time

• Compatible with Windows™ 7 32-bit and 64-bit operating systems

Many common spectroscopic measurements requirecoordinated operation of a detection instrument and lightsource, as well as data acquisition and mathematicaloperations. Not all users have the time to program customroutines to fit their applications. TracQ Basic™ provides thesolution, combining customizable instrument control, dataacquisition and processing in a user-friendly softwarepackage. TracQ Basic is compatible with Orielmonochromators and many common detection instruments.

Oriel’s TracQ Basic software is an instrument control packagethat includes data acquisition and processing. TracQ Basicallows users to acquire spectroscopic measurement dataquickly and easily, without requiring any programmingknowledge. TracQ Basic is true radiometry software, whichenables users to acquire basic signal vs. wavelengthmeasurements or use the built-in algorithms forspectroscopic measurements. Data acquisition andprocessing occur in real time.

TracQ Basic integrates Oriel monochromators andspectrographs with various detection instruments. Softwareprompts guide users through the measurement process.Instruments are controlled and scan parameters are set upthrough simple, intuitive dialog boxes. The front panel of thesoftware allows users to monitor the instrument status,present wavelength, signal reading and the selectedwavelength units.

• Signal vs. Wavelength

• Time Interval Data Logging

• External Quantum Efficiency (EQE)

• Lamp Radiometry

• Optical Power

• Absorbance

• Transmittance

TracQ Basic performs the following measurements:

TracQ Basic includes many features, such as:

• Monochromator grating selection

• Automatic bandpass selection

• Motorized filter selection

• Wavelength unit selection

• Wavelength offset

• Output port selection

• Monochromator shutter control

• QE detector and preamplifier gain setups

• Detector spectral responsivity file integration

• Background subtraction

TracQ™

A P P L I C A T I O N E X A M P L E S

Quantum Efficiency Measurements

• Sensor characterization

• Solar cell research and development

Quantum Efficiency (QE) measurements of two Silicon solar cells are shown here.

Signal vs. Wavelength

• Background subtraction

• Reference data for spectroscopic measurements

• Voltage, current or power measurements (detector dependent)

Signal vs. wavelength for an Oriel Cornerstone monochromator. This data was taken using .600 umand .760 um wide slits at the monochromator's input and output ports. These scans illustrate thetradeoff between resolution and throughput when selecting slits.

Time Interval Measurements

• Light source stability

• Signal modulation readings

Time Interval scan of a Cornerstone 130 monochromator set to output 840 nm with a Xenon lamp.The lamp was allowed to warm up for 30 minutes prior to taking data. Data taken immediately afteran arc lamp is ignited would show instability until an appropriate temperature equilibrium woudl bereached inside the Oriel research lamp housing.

Transmittance Measurements

• Optical material characterization

• Concentration of solutions

Transmittance data is shown for an optical filter.

BASIC DATA ACQUIS IT ION AND RADIOMETERY SOFTWARE

Optical Power Measurements

Optical power may be obtained by using a Newport unamplified calibrated detector with a 1918-R, 1936-R or 2936-R powermeter. When an amplified detector needs to be utilized for an application, the output is in voltage. By loading the spectralresponsvity characteristics of an optical detector into TracQ Basic, the software can convert voltage readings to power inwatts. This is particularly useful when an amplified detector is required, such as for use with a lock-in digital amplifier andoptical chopper.

A number of amplified detectors are available from Oriel for use with the LIDA-SRS-KIT.Each calibrated, NIST-traceable detector includes a spectral responsivity data file whichTracQ Basic uses to calculate output power.

The LIDA-SRS-KIT is a lock-in digital amplifier kit that includes an optical chopper andTracQ Basic at no additional cost. When the chopper frequency is synchronized to theinstrument, it is able to separate small signals from large background levels of noise.

F E A T U R E S

Instrumentation Control

TracQ Basic works with compatible detection systems and Oriel monochromators/spectrographs via their USB, RS232 orIEEE-488 (GPIB) interfaces to automate the data acquisition process. The software commands switch gratings, filters andoutput ports at specified wavelengths or adjust motorized slit widths at each port, for instruments equipped with thesefeatures. Various detection instrument parameters, such as filtering, measurement mode, autorange, time constant and moreare also controlled by TracQ Basic.

MS260i 1/4 m Imaging Spectrographs Cornerstone™ 130 1/8 m Monochromators Cornerstone™ 260 1/4 m Monochromators MS257™ 1/4 m Monochromator and Imaging Spectrographs

Legacy Oriel Merlin Radiometers 1918-R LIDA-SRS-KIT 2936-R 1936-R

TracQ™

Automatic Grating, Filter and Output Port Selection

Users have the ability to select a specific grating and filter,or use the automatic selection tables when performing ascan. All that is required is to enter the wavelength(s) atwhich the grating or filter is changed.

For monochromators and spectrographs featuring dualoutput ports, the port is selected by a motorized mirror builtinto the instrument. Two output ports allow continuousscanning over a broad wavelength range without needing tobreak down the setup to swap detectors. This mirror iscontrolled through TracQ Basic. The user can enter thewavelength at which the output port is switched.

Monochromator filter control screen.

Automatic grating selectionsettings table

The automatic output port selection feature is available withCornerstone 260 and MS257 monochromators

Integrates Spectral Responsivity Data

Spectral responsivity data for a calibrated detector may beloaded into TracQ Basic. It must be in a text tab delimitedfile, with the left column listing the wavelengths innanometers and the right column listing the responsivities inamps per watt.

Amplified detectors provide a voltage output. Using thespectral responsivity data allows this type of detector totake optical power measurements. This is very useful whenutilizing a lock-in digital amplifier. The LIDA-SRS-KIT canaccept both current and voltage signals, but operates bestwith a voltage input. The legacy Merlin lock-in digitalamplifiers accept only a voltage signal. The spectralresponsivity data is required to make power measurementsusing a lock-in digital amplifier.

Automatic Bandpass Selection

A motorized slit assembly may be adjusted from 6 mm to 2mm width in 6 mm steps. The slit width is controlled throughthe utility software, optional hand controller, optional TracQBasic software or by using low-level commands.

An advantage of using motorized slits is that in addition tosetting the slit widths individually, the software can beconfigured to an automatic bandpass setting. The softwareadjusts the slit widths to maintain the chosen bandpass asscans are performed using multiple gratings and eitheroutput port.

The mathematics involved in determining the slit widthtakes into account the input and output focal lengths of theinstrument’s design, as well as the angle of the grating atthe specified wavelength.

Automatic bandpass selection is available with monochromators using motorized slits

BASIC DATA ACQUIS IT ION AND RADIOMETERY SOFTWARE

Background Subtraction

Background light in the environment or light leakage in asystem may result in data inaccuracy. For example, a darkbox must be constructed to perform quantum efficiencymeasurements on a dye-sensitized solar cell. If the darkbox is not completely light tight, the light leakage willintroduce an offset into the measurements. In this situation,measurements should be taken of only the background lightand saved. When background subtraction is enabled, thesebackground measurements are subtracted from thereference or data scan.

Please note that in the case of very high background lightlevels, the detector will saturate. This may happen withunchopped light, or even with a lock-in digital amplifier,where chopped light must be utilized. Any unchoppedbackground light, if intense enough, will essentiallyoverwhelm the detector’s sensor and negatively affect itsability to take readings. In cases such as this, enablingbackground subtraction will not resolve the situation.Excessively high background light levels must be eliminatedby either using a closed optical path or making changes tothe testing environment.

The time interval scan does not support backgroundsubtraction. In the case where a chopped signal is beingdetected, the chopper is used to separate the signal fromthe background radiation. When using the Newport19xx/29xx power meter, an offset may be entered under theparameters setup for the detection instrument. The offset isset by clicking the “Set Zero” icon.

Gain Setting Integration

Oriel’s amplified detectors include gain adjustment switcheson their housings. For those using unamplified detectors,the model 70710 Preamplifier is available. TracQ Basicallows the user to enter the gain selections into the software.This is particularly useful during sensor characterization,when the calibrated reference detector may have differentgain requirements than the device under test.

Supports Various Wavelength Units

TracQ Basic supports nanometers (nm), micrometers (um)or wavenumber (cm-1). Users should choose thewavelength units prior to taking any data. The units selectedfor spectroscopic data acquisition must be the same for allreference and background scans.

Monochromator Shutter Control

An electronic shutter is integrated into the housings ofOriel’s motorized monochromators and spectrographs. Theshutter is mounted inside the housing at the input port.TracQ Basic allows the user to control the shutter.

The shutter is used to close the light path when light is notrequired. This allows the light source to remain on - andtherefore remain warmed up - so that it continues to providestable performance. Additionally, restarting a lamp results inwear of the filament (with quartz tungsten halogen lamps) orwear of the anode/cathode (with arc lamps). Therefore,when the light is not needed during short periods, closingthe shutter is suggested.

Multiple Communication Methods Supported

USB

• No GPIB card, serial port or USB converter cable needed

• USB 2.0 cable available from Newport

• USB driver is compatible with Win7 32 and 64 bit OS

RS232

• Simplifies setup, as no driver is used• RS232 cable available from Newport• Supports third-parts RS232/USB converter cables

(must be LabVIEW™ compatible)

GPIB (IEEE-488)

• Simplifies setup, as no driver is used

• GPIB cable available from Newport

• Supports third-parts GPIB/USB converter cables (must be LabVIEW™ compatible)

Newport Corporation, Irvine, California and Franklin, Massachusetts; Evry and Beaune-la-Rolande, France and Wuxi, China have all been certified compliant with ISO 9001 by the British Standards Institution. Santa Clara, California is DNV certified.

Complete listings for all global office locations are available online at www.newport.com/contact

www.newport.comNewport Corporation, Global Headquarters1791 Deere Avenue, Irvine, CA 92606, USA

PHONE: 1-800-222-6440 1-949-863-3144 FAX: 1-949-253-1680 EMAIL: sales@newport.com

TracQ™ BASIC DATA ACQUIS IT ION AND RADIOMETERY SOFTWARE

DS- 0

5150

1

TracQ Basic Supported Monochromators and Spectrographs

Series Model Interface

Cornerstone™ 130 1/8 m Monochromators

74000 RS232 and GPIB (IEEE-488)

74004 USB

CS130-RG-x-xx RS232 and GPIB (IEEE-488)

CS130-USB-x-xx USB

Cornerstone™ 260 1/4 m Monochromators

74100 RS232 and GPIB (IEEE-488)

74125 USB

CS260-RG-x-xx-x RS232 and GPIB (IEEE-488)

CS260-USB-x-xx-x USB

MS260i 1/4 m Imaging Spectrographs

74050 RS232 and GPIB (IEEE-488)

74055 RS232 and GPIB (IEEE-488)

74085 USB

74086 USB

MS260i-RG-x-xx-x RS232 and GPIB (IEEE-488)

MS260i-USB-x-xx-x USB

MS257™ 1/4 m Monochromator and Imaging Spectrographs

77700 RS232 and optional GPIB (IEEE-488)

77702 RS232 and optional GPIB (IEEE-488)

77778 USB

77780 USB

77781 USB 2.0 and RS232

77782 USB 2.0 and RS232

TracQ Basic Supported Detection Instruments

Series Model InterfaceOriel Merlin Lock-In DigitalAmplifiers

70100 RS232

70103 GPIB (IEEE-488)

70104 RS232

70105 GPIB (IEEE-488)

Newport Power Meters 1918-C, 1918-R USB

1936-C, 1936-R USB

2936-C, 2936-R USB

Stanford Research SystemsLock-In Digital Amplifier

SR810 GPIB (IEEE-488)

TracQ Basic is included at no extra cost with thefollowing instruments:

Series InterfaceLIDA-SRS-KIT Radiometry System GPIB (IEEE-488)

Tunable Light Sources USB, RS232 and GPIB (IEEE-488)

QEPVSI-b Quantum Efficiency Measurement System USB

Computer Requirements

TracQ Basic is provided on a USB memory stick. It includesthe Newport Power Meter application for use with detectioninstrument models 19xx/29xx. Also included are the usermanual, quick start guide, USB instrument drivers and theNational Instruments™ Measurement and AutomationExplorer (NI Max) application.

The appropriate communication ports for the instrumentsmust be available on the computer. For GPIBcommunication, a GPIB card must be installed in thecomputer or a GPIB/USB converter cable utilized. Whenusing GPIB or RS232 instruments on a computer with onlyUSB ports, TracQ Basic supports USB converter cables thatare compatible with National Instruments software.

Minimum System RequirementsOperating System Microsoft Windows 7 (32 or 64-bit)

Processor 2 GHz

RAM 1 GB

Hard Drive 800 MB free space

Peripherals USB port

Ordering Information

Model DescriptionTRACQ-BASIC-V066 TracQ Basic Data Acquisition & Spectroscopy Software, Version 6.6